Double curtain track system



Oct. 30, 1962 TAlCHl SAITO DOUBLE 001mm TRACK SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 29, 1960 in V Oct. 30, 1962 TAICHl SAITO 3,060,490

DOUBLE CURTAIN TRACK SYSTEM Filed March 29, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 7H/6/f/ .Sfl/Ta ilniteti rates 'Fatent @hfiee 3,%,4% Federated Get. 30, 1962 3,060,490 DOUBLE URTAIN TRACK SYSTEM Taichi Saito, 6 l-chorne, Shinkawa, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan Filed Mar. 29, 1960, Ser. No. 18,445 Claims priority, application Japan July 30, 1959 9 Ciaims. (ill. 1695) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in double curtain track systems and more particularly to a double curtain track system which comprises two curtain tracks, brackets, slides and end caps. Prior to the present invention it has been already proposed to provide double curtain track systems in which both the tracks are arranged horizontally, e.g., with the channel at their lower sides, in order to hang two kinds of curtains at the same time.

The arrangement described has the disadvantage that gaps between the tracks and the upper ends of the curtains are visible, which spoils the beauty of the room. in the past every part of such systems has been made of metal which was apt to rust and which was difficult to manufacture.

With the foregoing in mind, one object of the present invention is to provide a double curtain track system in which two curtain tracks are arranged in parallel with each other, one having a channel extending downwardly, another having a channel extending laterally. The arrangement described has the advantages that the front track which is arranged with its channel extending laterally, covers the latter when the curtains are drawn aside and, moreover, it may be easier carried out than usual to hang the front curtain at points a little distant from the upper end thereof in order to cover the tracks with the upper part of the front curtain, which results in a good appearance. A related object is to provide a double curtain system in which both the tracks are exactly the same and provided at both their sides with a step respectively, the step being adapted to engage with projections of the bracket and, in addition, serving to strengthen the track. An important object is to provide a double curtain track system of the character set forth having slides which are provided with a horizontal annular groove and with an upper and a lower groove, so that the said slides can be used for the track arranged with its channel downward and the other with its channel sideways.

A further object of the invention is to provide a double curtain track system having brackets which include a main part provided at its rear side with a vertical member and an inclined member and at its upper side with a protuberance, a first and a second supporting plate, these plates being adapted to engage with the tracks and to be attached to the main part by a screw. Therefore, the tracks can be easily attached to the bracket or removed from it only by turning said screw. A related object is to provide a double curtain track system in which the main part is provided with a slot instead of the screw hole for said screw and the first and the second supporting plate are attachable to the main part by means of said screw and a nut, so that their position may be shifted with respect to the main'part as occasion demands and then rigidly secured to the main part.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a double curtain track system having end caps which comprise a tubular part adapted to fit into the channel of the track at its end and a flange integral therewith, the former of which carries a plate therein and another plate outside which are connected with each other by a screw. At the end of the latter plate there is located a connecting ring pivoted thereto, thereby it being possible to employ the same end cap for the track arranged horizontally and that at a right angle thereto.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a double curtain track system in which the track, the slide and the end cap are made of plastics, particularly hard plastic, which has the advantages that they can be manufactured more easily and beautifully than usual and they are particularly suitable for arrangement in bath and showerbath rooms, rooms in which medicines, chemicals and so on are used, or at the seaside. The slide made of plastics causes in general no noise when it slides along the track. Owing to the characteristics of plastics, moreover, the track can be easily cut, perforated and bent in a desired curve by means of heating. These and other objects of the invention and the various fea tures and details of the construction and operation thereof are hereinafter fully set forth and described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a double curtain track system according to the present invention, certain parts of the track being removed for clear illustration of the slides and the end caps.

FIG. 2 is plan view of the curtain track looking from below.

FIG. 3 is an end view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bracket.

FIG. 5 is a side view thereof in which both the tracks are indicated by irregular broken lines.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the slides.

FIG. 7 is a side view thereof.

FIG. 8 is an end view of the end cap looking from left to right of FIG. 9.

FIG. 9 is a side view thereof.

Referring to the drawings, similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, 1 denotes the curtain tracks of channel shape and made of hard plastics, one of which is arranged horizontally with its channel opening laterally and the other of which at a right angle thereto with its channel opening downwardly, according to the invention the formerbeing exactly the same as the latter. The track 1 has a step 2 respectively on both its sides and a longitudinal channel 3 at its lower side. On the one hand the step 2 serves to strengthen the track and on the other it is adapted to engage with the projections of the bracket In FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, 4 denotes the slide of hard plastics, which is provided on its head with a horizontal annular groove 5 and with two grooves 6 that is, an upper and a lower groove (FIG. 6). As is shown in FIG. 1, said groove 5 is adapted to engage with the channel edges of the track arranged with its channel downward and said grooves 6 with the channel edges of the track arranged with its channel extending sideways or laterally. According to this invention, therefore, the same slide can be employed for both parallel tracks. In addition, the slide 4 is equipped with a downward extension having an opening 7 at its end which is adapted to engage with the hook of the curtain.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 the main part of the bracket is indicated by 8, the first supporting plate by 12 and the second supporting plate by 13. The main part 8 is provided at its upper side with a protuberance 9 serving to strengthen itself for bending moment and to receive the screw 14 and at its rear side with a vertical member 10 adapted to attach the bracket and therefore the curtain track to a wall or the like and with an inclined member 11 serving to strengthen the bracket for vertical load. Between the main part 8 and the second supporting plate 13 there is located the first supporting plate 12 being at its outer end, integral with a vertical part having an extension substantially at a right angle thereto and with a shorter vertical part at its inner end, as best shown in FIG. 5. Both said vertical parts are provided at their outer ends with a projection 17 and 16 respectively. The second supporting plate 13 is also provided at its inner end with a vertical part having a projection 20 and at its outer end with a vertical end surface 19. As is shown in FIG. 4, the projection 16 is positioned at a definite distance from the projection 20 and the projection 17 from the end surface 19, all of them being adapted to engage with the step 2 of the track 1. As indicated by irregular broken lines in FIG. 4, both the curtain tracks 1 are so supported by the bracket that one of them is arranged with its channel downward and the other with its channel sideways. The first and the second supporting plates 12, 13 can be rigidly attached to the main part 8 only by one screw 14 and, moreover, their position may be shifted with respect to the main part 8 and then rigidly secured thereto when a slot is arranged in the main part instead of the screw hole and a nut is used. The bracket according to the present invention can be used at the ends of the track 1 as well as at the intermediate part thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 8 and 9 the end cap 21 comprises a flange 22 and a tubular part 23 which is adapted to fit into the channel 3 at the end of the track 1. The end cap 21 is also advantageously made of plastics. The tubular part 23 carries a plate 27 therein and another plate 26 outside, which are connected with each other by a screw 28. At the end of the plate 26 there is located a connecting ring 25 which is pivoted thereto.

The end cap is fixedly attached to the end of the track 1 in such a way that its tubular part 23 is so fitted into the channel 2 of the track 1 that both the edges of the channel 2 are positioned between the plate 26 and the tubular part 23 and then they are fastened to each other by turning the screw 28. As the end cap 21 is made of plastics, said fastening is especially excellent as compared with that of metal. The end cap serves to protect and decorate the end of the track, for the purpose of which an end cap of plastics is very suitable. Whether the end cap 21 is attached to the track arranged with its channel downward or to that arranged with its channel sideways, the connecting ring 24 may always hang down, because it is pivoted to the plate 26, as already stated above. Therefore, according to the invention it is possible to employ the same end cap to track arranged with its channel downward or for that arranged with its channel sideways. While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described herein, it is not intended to limit the invention to such disclosure and changes and modifications may be made therein and thereto within the scope of the claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A double curtain track system comprising a first track member having a pair of spaced substantially parallel flanged track portions disposed in a substantially horizontal plane, a second track member having a pair of spaced substantially parallel flanged track portions disposed in a substantially vertical plane, a bracket supporting said first and second track members in spaced locations including a first adjustable bracket member having one end holding the lower end of said second track member and the inner side of said first track member and a second bracket member holding the top end of said second track member and the outer side of said first track member, and slide members slidable on each of said flanged track members and including a portion extending outwardly therefrom for securing curtains and similar material thereon.

2. A double curtain track system according to claim 1, wherein said first and second track members are substantially channel shaped.

3. A double curtain track system according to claim 1,

wherein said slide members are interchangeable for each of said first and second track members.

4. A double curtain track system comprising a first track member of substantially channel shape having its open end extending downwardly and including opposite in-turned substantially parallel flanged track portions adjacent its open end, a second track member of substantially channel shape having its open end extending laterally, said second track member having opposite substantially parallel in-turned flange track portions adjacent said opening, a bracket holding said first and second track members at spaced locations including a first adjustable bracket member having one end holding the lower end of said second track member and the inner side of said first track member and a second bracket member holding the top end of said second track member and the outer side of said first track member, and a slide member for each of said first and second track members including a portion in movable, slidable engagement with said in-turned flanged track portions of said track members and a portion supported exteriorly of said track members for securing curtain materials thereto.

5. A double curtain track system according to claim 4, wherein said bracket includes a main bracket portion including a part for securing said bracket to a wall and an outstanding part for supporting said first and second bracket members and said first and second track members.

6. A double curtain track system according to claim 4, wherein said slide member includes a sliding head portion having horizontally and vertically disposed grooves for interchangeable engagement with said first and second track members.

7. A bracket for mounting channel-shaped tracks of a double curtain track system comprising a wall mounting portion having an outstanding supporting arm and an upstanding wall mounting arm with an unobstructed opening for receiving securing screw means, a first clamping portion adapted to be held by said supporting arm including a downwardly extending supporting arm portion terminating in a lower substantially horizontal end with an upturned edge, a substantially horizontal portion adapted to underlie said supporting arm portion with a downturne-d opposite end having an in-turned lower edge for engagement with one of the sides of a track element, and a second clamping member disposed between said downwardly extending supporting arm portion and the downturned opposite end of said first clamping portion and including a substantially straight end at one side adapted to be moved into engagement with the opposite side of the channel-shaped track member secured by said first clamping portion, said second clamping member having an opposite end adapted to engage one side of a horizontally disposed channel-shaped track by engagement with a side face therewith along with the second downwardly extending portion of said first clamping portion which engages the track on its opposite side, and means to secure said first clamping portion and second clamping member to said supporting arm.

8. A double curtain track system comprising a first track member of substantially channel shape having its open end extending downwardly and including opposite in-turned substantially parallel flanged track portions adjacent its open end, a second track member of substantially channel shape having its open end extending laterally, said second track member having opposite in-turned substantially parallel flange track portions adjacent said open end, bracket means holding said first and second track members at spaced locations, a slide member for each of said first and second track members including a portion in movable, slidable engagement with said inturned flanged track portions of said track members and a portion supported exteriorly of said track members for securing curtain materials thereto, said bracket means including a main substantially horizontal bracket portion with an upstanding part for securing said bracket to a wall, said upstanding part having a securing screw opening, and two slidable portions connected to said main bracket portion each having ends engageable with a respective end of one of said first and second track member and being relatively slidable for holding said track members in a secured position.

9. A slide member for holding curtains and similar material for sliding movement along a track defined by opposed parallel flange elements comprising a downwardly extending portion having means for securing a curtain hook and similar device thereto, and a slide head at the upper end of said downwardly extending portion having upper and lower substantially parallel horizontally extending grooves opening upwardly and downwardly respectively, and opposed substantially horizontally extending grooves on each side of said' member opening laterally outwardly on each side disposed intermediate said upper and lower grooves, said laterally extending opening grooves being provided for the inser- 6 tion of opposed track flange elements disposed in a horizontal plane therein for sliding movement along the track and said upwardly and downwardly opening grooves be ing provided for the insertion of opposed track flange elements disposed in a vertical plane for sliding movement along said track.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,889,112 Shoemaker Nov. 29, 1932 2,412,608 Fridolph Dec. 17, 1946 2,757,804 Sadwin Aug. 7, 1956 2,771,196 Scheuermann Nov. 20, 1956 2,791,005 Thompson May 7, 1957 2,918,245 Cameron Dec. 22, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 779,930 France Jan. 24, 1935 285,722 Switzerland Ian. 5, 1953 

